The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-08-20
PRELUDES OF 1888.

The first step In the great political cam
paigu of 1888 may be said to have been
taken by the Democrats OF Ohio, In their
state convention four weeks ago, Their
pronouncement was marked by two nota
BILE points; 1st, unqualified approval of the
administration of President Cleveland, and
10 that extent declaration In favor of his
denomination; and I'd, clear definition OF
the tariff and taxation policy to be main
tanned In the contest. That declaration
was In these words:
ave demand such judicial reduction OF
the present burdensome tariff as shall re-
suit In producing Il revenue sufficient only
to meet the expenses of an economical adj.
ministration OF government, the payment
of liberal pensions to Union soldiers and
sailors, and the payment of the Interest
and principal of the public debt; and II
necessary, we favor such reduction of In.
ternal revenue, except on liquors, as will
prevent the accumulation of surplus In
the national Treasury; and we denoGnce
any attempt to abolish the tax on liquors tor
the purpose Of keeping up the present un.
just, unequal, and onerous tariff system"
The Democratic convention In Ohio was
followed week later by convention of
the Republicans Of the same state, and II
was naturally assumed that this would
force the latter to an equally explicit dec
laration On the same points, especially that
In regard to maintaining the tax on whisky.
But the issue was lodged, and the conven.
ton contented itself with a repetition of
the old song In favor Of such protective
tariff as shall secure to American citizens
the privilege of supplying every article
which can be produced by American labor
&c. As the only counter proposition to a
reduction of the tariff for diminishing the
surplus revenue is the repeal of the tax on
whisky and tobacco, the dodge of that ques
ton by the Ohio Republicans must be con
strued as placing that party, which claims
to be the "only true temperance party" In
the race as the only free whisky party.
The balance of the Ohio Republican
declaration consisted of wordy section II
favor of the restriction of foreign emigra
ton; In favor Of liberal distribution Of
the surplus revenue among the states, ant
general endorsement of Gov Forakers
speech In denunciation of the South ant
the claim of his article In the Forum tina
Republican restoration to the national ex
ecutive is necessary to "check the reviva
Of the Southern Confederacy" In y word
Republicanlsm, as defined by the party
sanhedrim In Ohio, Is substantially higl
protectionism and sectionalism.
The Republican announcement In 0hiC
was supplemented on Wednesday by tn,
declarations of state convention of tn,
same party In Pennsylvania. Natural,
the Pennsylvanians go the full length o
their Ohio brethren in favor of high pro
tectlonism, their declaration being in favo
of "a tariff for tine sake of nurturing Amer
lean manufacturers under the industries
and resources of this country, so that 1t Cal
furnish Its people with every item of con
sumption they can naturally produce, ant
for the purpose of protecting home labo
against foreign labor as well az Its products.
There is the same lodging Of the fret
whisky issue as means Of surplus revenu,
reduction, unless the clause In favor O.
"the creation Of an American marine By